We see the sixth overall pick on the practice field for the
first time this
weekend
Womens Daniel
Jones Jersey , but let’s not go overboard with it"WhiteFanposts Fanshots
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Week 17New York Giants NewsTempering expectations: What to expect from Daniel
Jones at Giants’ rookie mini-campNew,235commentsWe see the sixth overall pick on
the practice field for the first time this weekend, but let’s not go overboard
with itEDTShareTweetShareShareTempering expectations: What to expect from Daniel
Jones at Giants’ rookie mini-campChristopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY SportsA few
weeks ago my family and I took a little vacation.The timing of the trip was not
exactly ideal, with the excursion taking place the week before the NFL Draft.
You know, that time of year when I tend to have a few things on the calendar.
However, left to the whim of those who set the school calendar in Montgomery
County, Md., that was Spring Break week. So we packed the family - and all my
draft materials - into the car and headed north, to a lovely resort in the
Poconos.Woodloch Resort was a very enjoyable experience for the whole family.
Activities all day long to keep both our young children entertained, an
impressive list of dining options, and nightly entertainment for the entire
family. It was actually a pleasant trip, thanks in additional part to one thing
that I have learned along the way as a dad.Now, I’m not the ideal person to be
doling out parenting advice. If you’re here for that, you might want to turn
around right now. But if there is one thing I have learned about being a dad,
and especially about vacationing with
children
Authentic
Daniel Jones Jersey , it’s this: Set expectations critically low. I mean,
bare minimum type of low. Some of you have probably seen that commercial for a
travel website that has a family staggering towards their hotel room, and one of
the children has lost his shoe between home, the airport and now the hotel.
These are the type of expectations you want to set and hopefully surpass: No one
loses a shoe.Why do this? Because if you just go into the adventure hoping for
baby steps, you won’t be disappointed.When asked to put together a piece setting
expectations for Daniel Jones and his first rookie mini-camp, these images came
rushing into my mind.Jones and the rest of the new Giants are going to take the
field for their first action as professional players. Given that Jones was
selected early in the first round, a circus-like atmosphere will also descend
upon the practice facility, looking for every single sign that Jones can live up
to the first-round billing. While the impetus might be there to overreact and
over analyze every read, throw and play, I’m here with some ... fatherly
advice.Setting the expectationsBack in 2004 another young quarterback was
approaching his first mini-camp as a professional. In front of an array of media
personnel and cameras that he said outnumbered the people living in Mississippi,
Eli Manning ... struggled. Here are just some of the reviews after his first few
days:“Somewhat of a bust.” The Giants “had to expect more.” “Sloppy.” “Deer in
the headlights.”The media focused heavily on the results of each practice snap,
looking at things like wobbly passes, interceptions, and the like. That cannot
be the grading scale for Jones, and it should not be for any player this week.
Let’s take a moment to reflect what the incoming rookies have been doing for the
past few months: Going through the world’s longest and strangest job interview.
From the time Jones’s college career ended, he has been training and preparing
for the “test
Daniel
Jones Jersey Boys ,” or “tests,” he would face along the way. The Senior
Bowl. The Combine. His Pro Day. His team visits. Finally he will get back to
doing what he knows: Playing football.But that being said, given his focus the
past few months - and the development he will need to achieve to become a
starter in the NFL - expectations should be low. While the draw will be there to
try and pour over his stats each day and live or die with each throw he makes,
instead the focus should be on the larger picture, and what he needs to do each
day to get better and prepare for life as an NFL QB.With that in mind, here is
what I’m going to be looking for.Learning the Offense - Jones will likely
struggle. Reporting will probably be similar to how Manning’s first mini-camp
was rolled out, with wobbly throws and interceptions and even some fumbled
snaps. But this is just the first step on hopefully a long journey, and he will
not be a finished product out of the gate. What I will be watching for are signs
that he is learning the offense. Is he making the right reads and decisions? Is
he picking up on defensive rotations? Is he understanding the protection schemes
in front of him, and how to adjust them? Even these will be slower than they
need to be at the start, but that should be the focus. Not on the results, but
on the process. Another reason to focus on the process is because of the talent
that is going to be in place around him this weekend. Jones will be throwing to
players that he probably won’t be throwing to if he sees the field this year, or
next. So that is another reason that the process, and not the results, are the
key this weekend.Becoming a Professional - Dave Gettleman indicated that he
would love to have a “Mahomes model” take shape for the Giants at the
quarterback position. While part of that process might be drafting a quarterback
with the immense talent of Patrick Mahomes, there is more to the equation than a
rocket right arm and a great football mind. Mahomes had to learn the business of
being a professional quarterback, from Monday morning through Sunday
afternoon
Color
Rush George Asafo-Adjei Jersey , and everything that comes in between.
Mahomes was lucky in that Alex Smith was an incredible tutor for him.For Jones,
who needs to learn the same things, that process begins this weekend. Taking in
the information during the meetings and then applying it on the practice field.
Mental reps are going to be critical for him throughout his rookie year,
especially if he does end up sitting and watching for an entire season. There is
a difference between observing from the sidelines and learning from the
sidelines. Every practice snap can be a learning experience for Jones, whether
he is the quarterback running the drill or not. What is he seeing from the
defense? How would he handle that play-call? What check would he make or what
aspect of the protection would he adjust. Jones needs to immerse himself in the
business of playing quarterback, starting this weekend. Every single moment in
front of him is an opportunity to learn and get better, and he needs to take
advantage of those chances. Ask questions and never stop learning. The Giants
welcome in some new members of the family this weekend, including their prized
first round draft pick. His development begins now, and how he handles these
moments will go a long way towards determining whether he lives up to the early
selection and proves Gettleman right, or whether he proves those on the outside
criticizing the selection right. But the expectations for what we see this
weekend are more in line with first steps, not a finished product. As with
traveling with young children, setting those expectations in a proper light is
the first step towards enjoying the overall experience. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) —
Andrew Luck has a one-track mind.With two regular-season games left, the
Indianapolis Colts quarterback insists he’s paying no attention to playoff
possibilities, scoreboards or other teams’ schedules. Instead, he’s focused on
the only thing he considers important this weekend — beating the New York Giants
on Sunday.“I’ve been a part of teams where you sit and say, ‘We need this to
happen with this.’ It doesn’t work like
that
Youth
George Asafo-Adjei Jersey ,” Luck said. “You’ve got to handle your own
business.”Article continues below ...Few teams can match what the Colts (8-6)
have done lately. They’ve rebounded from a 1-5 start to win seven of eight and
put themselves back in the postseason hunt. After losing their first two home
games, they’ve won five straight at Lucas Oil Stadium, and if they can beat the
Giants (5-9), they could control their own playoff path.Coach Frank Reich
doesn’t do business that way, though.The former NFL quarterback simply asks his
players to do their jobs: keep two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning and Offensive
Rookie of the Year contender Saquon Barkley in check; prepare for the possible
return of Pro Bowl receiver Odell Beckham Jr.; and expose the holes in New
York’s defense.New York, meanwhile, hopes it can continue a strong second half
after starting 1-7. While winning two of three and four six, the Giants already
have knocked off NFC North champion Chicago and playoff hopeful Washington. They
will be playing spoiler at Indianapolis.“You’re chasing wins,” Manning said.
“We’re football players and this is what we do. We play football, that’s our
passion, that’s our job, and we’re going to go out there and do it well and be
able to celebrate some wins.”It won’t be easy.Indy pitched its first shutout in
four years while rushing for 178 yards against Dallas’ No. 3-ranked run defense
last week. Luck is playing the best football of his career and the defense looks
as stout as it has in almost a decade.The combination has made Indy a trendy
pick as the team nobody wants to play, and if the Colts can win their last two,
they could end a three-year playoff absence. But the Colts know they must stick
to the plan.“I am just very convinced there is no other way to approach it,”
Reich said. “I have been around a lot of good coaches, a lot of good players
(and) that is just what I have come to
believe
Womens
George Asafo-Adjei Jersey , experience and learn. There can’t be any
wavering from that (focal point).”SACK HAPPYIt’s been feast or famine when it
comes to sacks for the Giants. They had 14 in the first 11 games, and then
picked up five each in the next two weeks against Chicago and Washington.The
added pressure resulted in four interceptions, including touchdown returns by
linebacker Alec Ogletree against the Bears and Curtis Riley against the
Redskins. Things got back to the norm in last week’s shutout loss to Tennessee
when New York had one sack and no interceptions.Facing the Colts might not help.
Indy has allowed just 16 sacks this season, tied for fewest in the league.TACKLE
WATCHRookie linebacker Darius Leonard acknowledged he was “heartbroken” not to
make the AFC’s Pro Bowl team this week despite leading the league with 146
tackles.And he hopes to take out his frustration on the Giants this weekend.
Leonard says his weekly goal is to get 25 tackles, though he’s upped the ante
this week by saying he’s hoping to finish with 40. If he hits either mark,
Leonard will break Jeff Herrod’s 27-year-old franchise record for tackles in one
season.Leonard needs 15 tackles to move past Herrod (160).BARKLEY REBOUNDSPro
Bowl running back Barkley was held to 31 yards on 14 carries in the loss to the
Titans, his second-lowest total this season. The rookie ran for just 28 yards
against Dallas in Week 2.The second pick overall in the draft also had 56 yards
from scrimmage last week, marking the second time in 14 games he’s been held
below 100.Despite the bad game, Barkley is third in the league in rushing with
1,155 yards and he is not looking for a break even though the Giants have been
eliminated from playoff contention.“I would love my workload to be whatever it
can be to help the team win,” Barkley said. “I’ve said multiple times, if that’s
10 carries or if that’s 40 touches. I bumped it up to 40 this time.”THE COMEBACK
KIDLuck’s comeback season has been better than expected.His completion
percentage (67.3) is at a career high and he’s six completions away from a
career best in that category, too.What else? Luck heads into the final two games
needing 810 yards and seven TD passes to break his previous career highs.
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